Daikin and Astros Foundation Deliver First Cooling Communities Upgrade at the Bayland Community Center

HOUSTON, Texas, December 17, 2025 —  A big win for Houston communities was celebrated yesterday as Daikin, the Astros Foundation, and Harris County Precinct 4 cut the ribbon on the first Cooling Communities installation at Bayland Community Center. The $55,000 upgrade delivers a state-of-the-art HVAC system, ensuring year-round comfort and reliability for one of Sharpstown’s most vital gathering places.

 “Daikin is proud to invest in Houston and strengthen the spaces where our communities come together,” said Kristi Pittman, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Daikin. “Through Cooling Communities and our partnership with the Astros Foundation, we’re turning teamwork into real impact, starting here at Bayland Community Center. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited expand our program next year.” 

Daikin, the Astros Foundation and Precinct 4 County Commissioner Lesley Briones joined community members for a spirited celebration to commemorate Bayland’s new HVAC system and the comfort it will bring to residents who rely on the center. Powered by Daikin’s advanced inverter technology, the new system is fully operational and ready to keep the community center cool, reliable and welcoming all year long. 

Bayland Community Center is a lifeline for many families in Precinct 4 offering a variety of free programs and services to residents throughout the year. Located in Sharpstown, where temperatures can be approximately 10 degrees warmer than other parts of Harris County, Bayland serves as a refuge and resource during the hottest days of summer and in times of disaster. 

“The new HVAC system at Bayland will significantly enhance our resilience to extreme weather, creating protection for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “Thanks to the support of tremendous partners like Daikin and the Astros Foundation, we stand ready to serve our residents before, during, and after any storm.”

This milestone marks the beginning of a broader effort for Daikin and the Astros Foundation, who will continue the Cooling Communities program in 2026 and bring comfort and reliability to more Houston neighborhoods.

“Comfort and community are at the heart of this program,” said Emelda Douglas, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros and Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. “By teaming up with Daikin, we’re ensuring that spaces like Bayland Community Center are not only welcoming but comfortable for the families who depend on them. We look forward to building on this success in 2026 and continuing to make an impact in the Houston community.”

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 About Daikin 

Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide and a leading indoor comfort solutions provider. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (DNA) is a subsidiary of DIL, providing Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex brand products. DNA and its affiliates manufacture heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial use that are sold via independent HVAC contractors. DNA engineering and manufacturing is headquartered at Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, TX.  For additional information, visit www.daikincomfort.com.

 Amana® is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.

About Daikin Park

On January 1, 2025, the Houston Astros and Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin) entered into a 15-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership that brands the home of the Astros as Daikin Park. The agreement runs through the 2039 season, and includes official naming rights, partnership benefits, and giving back to the Greater Houston community through educational programming and youth sports development in underserved communities.

Overall, Daikin has invested more than $1 billion in the Houston area, including more than $500 million in building Daikin Texas Technology Park. Also, in August 2024, Daikin launched an initiative with the City of Houston to equip low-to-moderate income homes with advanced air conditioning and heating solutions, providing more comfort and energy efficiency for homeowners. Daikin is always looking for new ways to support their community and to create innovative technologies, with an unwavering commitment to making sustainable and responsible choices. For more information on Daikin Park, visit https://daikincomfort.com/about-daikin/daikin-park.

About Houston Astros:
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Established as the Houston Colt .45s, the Astros entered the National League as an expansion team in 1962. The current name, Houston Astros, reflecting Houston’s role as the host of the Johnson Space Center and space exploration, was adopted three years later, when they moved into the Astrodome. The Astros moved to their current home ballpark in downtown Houston in 2000. The Astros have had great success on the diamond, having won two World Series (2017 and 2022), five league pennants, and advanced to a record-setting seven-straight American League Championship Series, winning four of the last seven American League pennants.

A tenet of the organization is to give back to the greater Houston community, and that is done through the Astros Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros. The foundation seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs, the recognition and honor of our nation’s military, childhood cancer awareness, domestic violence awareness and efforts to reduce homelessness. The cornerstone initiatives include the Community Leaders program, the Astros Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program. For more information on the Astros Foundation, please visit www.astros.com/foundation.